Dear Caldwell,
One of my favorite old hymns offers these prayerful words: “Grant us wisdom, Grant us courage for the facing of this hour, for the living of these days.” That is my prayer for all of us and our nation amidst anxious hours and days in this time of transition of our nation and continued loss to COVID.
While fear is among many of our reasonable reactions to these times, the hymn calls to us with these words:
Lo! the hosts of evil ’round us,
Scorn Thy Christ, assail His ways.
From the fears that long have bound us,
Free our hearts to faith and praise.
Save us from weak resignation,
To the evils we deplore.
Let the search for Thy salvation,
Be our glory evermore.
Take a moment away from the rest of your day to listen to that hymn here and let it strengthen you as if it were the arms of God.
As people of faith we are given the Light that overcame the darkness and called to hold it out for ourselves and others. With that in mind, let me share a few timely and important things with you.
Leaders for Our Anti-Racism Journey
In my sermon on Sunday, I provided a brief update on planning that has been going on behind the scenes to advance our journey to become an anti-racist congregation. What could be more timely in the face of the white, “Christian” nationalism that underlies the frightening events of last week? Many of us may be wondering what we can do. Advancing this journey is a vitally important part of that answer.
First, comes leadership. I mentioned Sunday that the Session has gathered a group of leaders – diverse in race, age, background and profession – to lead us forward with the kind of sustained focus this work requires. They will begin work soon – and that includes coming together, refining a “charge” from the session to frame its work, identifying resources to help us and setting concrete plans for programs and other ways to engage us all in continued learning and self-discovery. I noted Sunday that the 2021 church budget will include significant funding for this work as it will lie at the heart of our life together this year, both as we last out this pandemic apart and when we regather in person.
The leadership group is: Jefforey Best, Gail Chauncey, Dr. Noelee Johnson, Kevin Martin, Rev. Diane Mowrey, Alyssa Mouton, Felicia Pine, Genie Richards, Elena Sepulveda and Yara Quezeda. Gail and I will serve as well. Please begin to pray for these members as they take on this vitally important work and stay tuned for more details.
Preachers’ Porch
As bread for the journey, we have God’s written word and Gail will host the Preachers’ Porch tonight at 7. We will look back at Sunday’s message and forward to the coming Sunday’s word, all in the context of our lives. Gail’s scriptures are 1 Samuel 3:1-10 and John 1:43-51.
The Porch is always a welcome time of community that can ground us amidst the waves of events that seem so oppressive. Come and find comfort with others.
Prayers for Community
This afternoon, I met with about 35 other clergy members and church leaders to speak openly about what we are seeing in Washington and how we can be a constructive element in the days ahead for our city. There was much wisdom in the group, including these truths and ideas:
- We should not be surprised after how the truth has been treated in recent years.
- We know that the election results that forecast a more pluralistic America are directly tied to the uprising against it in Washington.
- We are reticent about another “kumbaya” gathering but see the wisdom to lament in truth.
- We all must live in the tension, rather than running away from it, and avoid the tendency, as the church has in the past, to choose order over justice.
- White pastors in white churches especially need to tell the truth about what got American to this moment.
- White folks should practice “speaking that flows first from listening.”
A community service of lament and truth-telling may emerge and I will keep you updated as to how to take part.
In closing, stay close to each other, close to God in prayer and be of good courage as God’s ambassadors and messengers of hope and loving justice beyond the chaos.
In Christ,
John